Closure for bottles or the like



Aug. 20, 1940. M. M. KISTNER CLOSURE FQR BOTTLES OR THE LIKE Original Filed April 22, 1937 M/fis l lzer ad/( GAL,

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Patented Aug. 20, 1940 UNI-TED I STATES CLOSURE Fort BOTTLES on THE LIKE Merrill M. Kistner, Chicago, Ill., assignor to C. Paul Parker, Evanston, and Chester D. Kern,

Chicago, 111., jointly Application April 22, 193?, Serial No. 138,313 Renewed January 19, 1940 6 Claims. (01. 215-7) 4 The invention relates generally. to closures for bottles or other containers and more particularly to closures which are especially suitable for use in connection with liquor merchandising pack- 6 ages or the like. I

A general aim of the invention is to provide a new and improved closure which is simple and economical to manufacture, may be produced and supplied to the bottler ,in the form of a 10 unitary structure capable of being quickly assembled on a, filled container as said container passes along a production'llne and which may embody, as an integral part of the unit, a breaker or sealing strip for indicating to a purchaser or user that the container either has or has not been opened since it left the manufacturer or bottler. A closure utilizing the sealing strip may be generally referred to as a tamper-proof closure.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved closure which embodies resilient means for exerting a force tending to hold the closure in tightly assembled relation on the container.

In conjunction with the -foregoing,.another object is to provide in aclosure assembly, which includes a screw threaded cap, a part fixed to the container and engageable by the cap and having a yielding resiliency which becomes effective as so. the cap is seated in sealing relation on the container to exert a force for holding the cap in that position.

Another object of the invention is to provide a novel closure structure for a container which embodies a cap or similar closure for sealing the mouth of the container and which is detachably associated with another part secured to the container. I Still another object of the invention is to pro- 40 vide, means for assembling the tamper-proof closure device upon the neck of the container in such a manner that relative rotation between theassembled parts is prevented.

Other objects and advantages will become apparent in the following description and from the accompanying drawing inwhich:

Figure l is a fragmentary view in perspective of a. bottle having thereon a closure assembly embodying the features of the invention.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged view of the neck of a.

container having a closure assembly thereon, the assembly being shown in axial-section and the container partially in axial section.

' Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional view taken subu stantially along the line 3-4 of 'Fig. 2.

Figs. 4 and 5 are detailed sectional viewson an exaggerated scale showing the positions assumed by the parts in the seatedaud unseatedi positions of the cap. H While the invention is susceptible of various m modifications and alternative constructions,- I have shown in the drawing and will herein describe in detail the preferred embodiment, but it is to be understood that I do not thereby intend v to limit the invention to the specific form dis- '10 closed, but intend-to cover all modifications .and alternative 4 constructions falling 'within the spirit and scope of the invention as expressed in the appended claims.

While a closure structure embodying the presl5- ent invention will be considered and described in the environment of a closure for a liquor container or bottle, it is to be understood that it is equally adaptable for use in other fields. Referring to the drawing, the illustrated form of 3 closure is fashioned for association with the neck l0 of a bottle, which defines the usual filling and pouring opening or mouth Ill. The external surface of the neck, adjacent to the mouth, is smooth and generally cylindrical, as indicated 25 at H, and thissurface terminates at an abrupt, substantially radial shoulder l2 forming one side face of anannular rib IS. The opposite side of the rib, together with a second rib l4 spaced therefrom, defines an annular groove iii If de- 30 sired, the peripheral surface (of the rib may be provided with a plurality of irregularities such as tapering or inclinedribs or corrugations l6 extending generally in an axis paralleling direction. As. maybe seen in Fig. 2, the corrugations 35 I are preferably of increasing thickness from the outer to the inner ends thereof.

y In the present embodiment, as may best be seen in Fig. 2, the closure assembly includes'a cap I! adapted detachably to engage a sleeve ll 40 which fits about the cylindrical surface llandin turn is held permanently on the container by a collar I! which, in effect, embraces the' rib ll. In the tamper-proof form of the closure, a seal indicating member 20 is disposed to extend across 5 the outer face off the cap I! with the end portions of the strip permanently secured between the sleeve l8 and the'collar IQ. Preferably these parts are assembled into a permanent unitary structure prior to installation on a container. 50 I The sleeve, I8 is dimensioned to fit snugly but! slidably about the smooth cylindrical, surface 'll of the neck and is provided with screw threads, as shown, for engagementby the complementary screw threads on the cap AS m y n n Figs. 2, 4 and -5, the heightof the sleeve is less than the length of the cylindrical portion ll so that the outer margin of the sleeve stops or terminates a short distance from the end face of the neck. The opposite end of the sleeve carries an integral, radially outturned flange 2| which generally overlies the side face l2 of the .rib I3. The'peripheral margin of the flange 2| is straddled by a U-shaped bend or'curl 22 on the collar l9, whereby permanently to unite the sleeve and collar. veniently formed by a simple spinning operation. The collar, in turn, is permanently amxed'to the neck of the container by spinningor other wise forcing a portion, designated 23, thereof into the groove IS. The collar is formed of relatively heavy tough metal stock and removal thereof without-breaking the bottle is exceedingly diflicult, if not impossible.

The cap I1 is of more of less conventional design and includes a sealing gasket or the like 24 internally seated against the flat top. The seal indicating strip 20 is preferably in the form of an elongated member having a central dishshaped portion, indicated at 25 (Fig. 1) adapted to fit snugly about the outer face of'the cap and having end portions 26 extending along opposite sides of the cap and between the flange 2| on the sleeve and the curl 22 on the collar. The seal indicating strip is, of course, applied after the cap has been screwed onto the sleeve and before the flange and collar are joined. If desired, the seal.

. the unit is first placed over the end of the neck,

after which inward pressure is applied by suitable mechanism marginally to the outstanding shoulder formed by the flange 2| and curl 22. This pressure forces the closure unit inwardly of the neck of the container and effects a tight seal between the gasket and the end face of the neck. While the assembly is held in this condition, the portion 23 of thecollar is spun or forced into the groove II. From aconsideration of Fig. 4, it will be seen that the parts are so dimensioned that, when pressure is applied to the outstanding shoulder of the unit, the flange 2| will-be sprung outwardly and placed under tension, the sleeve and flange being formed of a material, such as a somewhat resilient metal, which will yield. That is to say, the sleeve assembly is shorter than the neck surface I] so that, whenthe gasket and neck end engage, the flange is spaced from and will be sprung toward the shoulder |2 when pressure is applied. Hence, after the assembly of the unit with the container is completed, the cap will be held firmly seated with respect to the mouth of the container by the resilient force of the tensioned flange 2|. The container, accordingly, will be tightly sealed regardless of any irregularities of the container structure and will remain sealed under substantially all of the conditions to which the container may be subjected. Moreover, after the cap has once been removed, it may again be screwed onto the sleeve i8 and the final force. exerted thereon to seat the gasket against the neck will be. effective to slide the sleeve ll slightly outwardly along the neck and place the flange 2| again under tension. The container, therefore, may be repeatedly. opened and closed, yet each time a tight leak-proof seal will be obtained. The closed and .opened positions of the This io y be con tive to the container neck.

parts are shown on a greatly exaggerated scale in Figs. 4 and 5, respectively.

The peripheral irregularities IS on the rib ll are pressed slightly'into the collar ll, preferably ,during the operation of engaging the collar portion 23 with the groove l5; By reason ofthe increasing thickness of the irregularities IO toward their inner ends, reception of the collar it in engagement therewith is facilitated. This engage merit prevents rotation of the closure unit rela- It will be evident, however, that relative movement betweenthe closure member and the neck will not be seriously disadvantageous, since the resiliency of the flange 2| will permit the assembly tomove as a unit without breaking the sealing engagement between the neck and, the gasket. Prevention of rotation does not facilitate manipulation of the cap with one hand.

From the foregoing, it will be understood that a novel unitary closure structure has been provided which possesses many desirable features. It may be manufactured economically and supplied to the bottler or user as a unit adapted to be applied as the bottles pass along a production line. It preserves the original fluid tight seal under tension and may be repeatedly resealed as tightly. Furthermore,-all of the parts of the unit, with the exception of the gasket, are out of contact with the container contents, the pour is through glass when the container is a bottle, and there is no possibility .of chemical reaction between the closure metal and the contents.

I claim as my invention:

1. A tamper-proof closure for a container having a neck provided with an externally smooth end portion and an annular rib adjoining said smooth portion, comprising a unitary assembly having, in combination, a part dimensioned to fit relatively snugly about said smooth portion and to terminate short of the open end face thereof, an outstanding flange on said part adapted to overlie the side face of said rib next to said smooth portion, a channel-shaped collar adapted to be permanently secured in overlying relation to said rib and having an independent union with said flange, a cap screw threaded onto said part and adapted for sealing engagement with the open end of saidneck, and a seal indicating strip extending across said cap and having its end portions irremovably bound between said flange and collar..

"2. In a closure comprising a unitary structure adapted to be secured'in sealing relation to the neck of a container, the combination of a member adapted to surround the outer end section of said neck and having a lateral flange, means for securing said member in place including a portion providing a groove peripherally surrounding and engaging said flange therein, and a cap carried by said member for sealing engagement with the mouth portion of said neck.

3. In a tamper-proof closure assembly of the character described for a container having an open-mouth neck, in combination, a member dimensioned to surround the outer end section of said neck and having a portion projecting laterally therefrom and including a surface facing generally in the direction of said mouth, a cap screw threaded onto said member. a breaker strip extending across said cap and having its end parts lying against said surface, and means coacting with said surface for clamping said end parts permanently against said surface.

4. In combination in a tamper-proof closure assembly, a container having an open-mouth neck, an annular rib projecting from said neck spaced from the mouth thereof, a sleeve encircling said neck between said rib and said mouth and having a lateral flange at its inner end extending across and in spaced relation to the adjacent face of said rib, a member engaging said rib and said flange to secure said sleeve in place, a cap engaged upon said sleeve for closing said mouth, and a tamper-proof sealing member engaging said cap and having portions thereof engaged permanently between said flange and said member and arranged to be ruptured in the unscrewing movement of said cap.

5. A tamper-proof closure comprising, in combination, a sleeve to encircle the neck of a container spaced from the mouth of the latter, a closure cap threaded upon said sleeve, a sealing strip lying across said cap and having the ends thereof extending therebeyond, means for conmeeting said sleeve to the container neck, means said cap from said sleeve,

for resiliently joining said sleeve and said connecting means including means for permanently anchoring said strip ends to assure irreparable disruption of the sealing strip upon removal of said resilient joining 5 means permitting movement of said sleeve longitudinally of the container neck when said cap is drawn up tightly against the mouth of the container neck.

6. In a tamper-proof closure, the. combination 10 with a container neck of a closure therefor, a

breaker strip extended across said closure and longitudinally along saidneok, and means for permanently ailixing the ends of said strip to the assembly, said neck having corrugations extendl5 ing longitudinally thereof in an aids-paralleling direction for relative rotation prventing engagement by said means, said corrugations being of increasing thickness from the outer to the inner ends thereof to facilitate reception of said means. 20 MERRILL M. mSTNER.

CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION. Patent No. 2,212,572. 2 August 20,- 19km MERRILL n.- KISTNER.

It is hereby certified that error appea'rs in'the printed specification of the abox re mnnbered patent requiring correction as follows: Page 2, second column, line 8, strike but the word not";page 5-, second calm, line 17, claim 6, for "prventing" read -preventing--; and"the t the said Letters Patent should be read with this correction therein that the same may conform to the record of the case in the Patent Office.

Signet and sealed this} 1st 'day of October, A. 1). 191m.

' I Henry Van Arsdale, (Seal) Acting Commissioner of Patents. 

